Explore the historic shipwrecks of Busuanga Island's Coron Bay

Divers looking for wreck diving opportunities in a pristine, almost virginal region, yet to be taken over by five-star resorts and tourists should head to the South China Sea where the tiny Filipino island of Busuanga is surrounded by waters full of sunken Japanese warships.

The area has become one of the most popular scuba diving destinations for wreck-diving because of the numerous ships that now sit on the ocean bed after being sunk by American planes during the Second World War.

Coron Bay’s deep waters are home to an array of vessels after a fleet of U.S. fighter planes raided the skies in September 1944 and launched a 40-minute attack on Japanese ships.

During scuba diving holidays at Coron Bay’s divers can explore 11 different Japanese naval ships that are buried in the ocean surrounding Busuanga Island; which are the most visible and easier to reach, but there are thought to be a total of 24 ships which have sunk in the area, leaving divers the opportunity to discover an unexplored wreck or two.

Ships that have already been located include 122-metre-long freighter, the Olympia Maru, and 118-metre-long seaplane, the Akitsushima.

One of the best underwater shipwrecks to explore is the 135-metre-long auxiliary supply ship named the Kyokuzan Maru, which had previously anchored on the island but after being damaged in the air raid, it was later scuttled by the Japanese. The Kyokuzan is a great ship to explore due to its upright position on the seabed and its surprisingly almost intact condition.

While exploring the ship, divers can get into the nooks and crannies of the boat including the cabins where oil drums, boilers, and broken china remains. The ghostly surroundings are also home to an abundance of marine life that have made the ship their home and some of which include snappers, barracuda, grouper fish, scorpion fish and lionfish.

Busuanga Island is the largest of the Calamian Islands in the Philipinnes and is one of the most exotic scuba diving destinations in the region; with turquoise crystal clear waters and white sand beaches.

Situated in the Palawan province of the Philippines, the uninhabited Busuanga Island, growing more popular by the minute for offering excellent conditions for scuba diving holidays; can be accessed with diving trips which depart from the nearby Sangat Island.

Nestled along the most extreme northern boundary of Coron Bay, Sangat Island boasts stunning natural scenery and traditional individual beachfront cottages which offer breathtaking views of Coron Bay on Busuanga Island.